MTMLC believes that in order to be successful, a planning process must engage large numbers of staff, board and community members in order to gain their agreement and commitment at every step. Plans that are created by a small group of people with little input from staff, board and community have, in our opinion, little chance of success. Thus, the MTMLC process is broad-based and inclusive.

We also anticipate that the strategic planning process will provide many opportunities for learning for staff, board and partners. MTMLC knows from experience that the most significant learning will revolve around the questions of how the agency can have a more significant impact on poverty in its community, how it can accurately assess community needs and what strategies produce the highest impact for families and the community.

MTMLC has significant experience assisting agencies to create by-laws, policies, and procedures that bring it into alignment with its new long-range plan. Only when change is embedded in the organization can the vision have a chance of surviving the constant, inevitable pressure in an organization to return to the status quo.

Finally, we know that the long-range planning process presents significant challenges and opportunities to agency leaders. Leaders who challenge "business as usual," who lead the agency and community into uncharted waters will themselves be challenged. MTMLC consultants provide the support and perspective leaders need in order to address their own leadership development needs.

Move the Mountain Leadership Center will assist the Community Action Agency to create a transformational strategic plan. The plan will clearly identify:

	CAA's vision for the future;
	The outcomes it is committed to achieving over a 3-5 year period;
	The high-impact strategies it will implement in order to achieve those outcomes; and
	The way it will measure its progress.

Ten-Step Transformational Planning Process